Pastel Painting is all about blending. It’s like alchemy, transforming raw materials into visual poetry. Where do you begin, find out more? Imagine your canvas as a white desert, waiting to be filled with color. Start with a little dab here and a little dash there. Let your imagination run wild. To make the colors sing, you need to blend them.
Start with the basics. Have a variety of pastels. Soft pastels are rich in color, while hard pastels give you control. Try both to feel the difference. Like a good chef, a pastel artist knows when to add a pinch of pepper and salt.
The most common method is to blend with your fingers. This is the baking soda of pastels. It’s always there and always reliable. Let’s raise it. Use your fingertips, your tips, or even your knuckles. Each one has its own effects. After a few months, the oils on your skin may start to affect the purity of the pastel. Always keep a small package of wipes on hand.
Let’s now talk about tools. Tortillons and cotton swabs are great for fine details. You have a large area to blend. Use a sponge or a tissue. Use unconventional tools. What about an old credit card? The perfect tool for subtle blending and scraping.
Here’s the golden nugget – layering. Begin with lighter shades and add darker ones gradually. This creates vibrancy and depth, which makes your painting pop. Imagine it as dressing for winter: layers, layers and more layers. This method makes colors more vibrant and also creates a richer foundation.
Fixatives are another tip. Like hairspray, they’re great for art. You can use light layers of fixative to preserve your artwork and blend it further without diluting the colors. Be careful, too much fixative can dull the vibrancy.